Our Story
Our mission:
We are The Yoga Buggy, a Vancouver-based non-profit that brings yoga and mindfulness places where children and families learn and play. Our collective of trauma-informed kids’ yoga teachers seek to democratize yoga by bringing high-quality, affordable classes to a wider range of children than usually have access to it. We focus on inclusion, diversity, and increasing accessibility and opportunities for those who struggle with learning disabilities, social-emotional issues and/or financial hardship. Together, we make difference!
It all started when…
In 2014, Miriam Leo Gindin, the founder of the Yoga Buggy, taught a yoga class to a group of underprivileged children in Winnipeg. Miri has always had a big heart for kids and social justice, and the children in this group responded beautifully to the yoga practices and the connection with a positive, loving adult. Yoga was especially helpful for her own physical and mental health and she saw the benefits it could bring to children. It didn't make sense that it was only available to people who could afford it! That clinched the deal for her! It was obvious what she needed to do. She spent a few more years classroom teaching to kids with learning disabilities and in 2017, she started The Yoga Buggy!
The Yoga Buggy makes yoga accessible by bringing classes into spaces where children and families already are, including schools, daycares, youth organizations, community centres, neighbourhood houses, preschools, family centres, and more! Our traveling model allows us to keep our rates lower than our competitors and to eliminate the need for caregivers to transport their children to class after school.
Achievements:
We are really proud of what we do. We create meaningful, well-paid work for 15+ talented and passionate kids' yoga teachers. We have partnered with 70+ local organizations so we can bring yoga to kids who need it most. Since opening, we have brought more than 13 000 hours of engaging kids yoga classes to children of all diversities.
